• If it ain’t broke: “Both CBS and ABC,” O’Connor points out, “have decided to try to replicate past successes this season: A third ‘NCIS’ spin-off, this time in New Orleans, is at No. 2, and is sure to garner the big numbers of its predecessors. ABC, meanwhile, can’t contain its excitement about its all-Shonda Rhimes Thursday-night lineup — ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘Scandal’ and the new ‘How to Get Away With Murder’ (No. 5). They’ve even rebranded the night #TGIT (Thank God It’s Thursday). More like Thank God for Shonda Rhimes, amirite?”

The crime drama “NCIS” on CBS is one of the longest running and successful shows in TV history. Different versions of the show have been set in various cities. Coming this fall to WLOX CBS, “NCIS-New Orleans.”

The show stars Scott Bakula as special agent Dwayne Pride. Pride’s character is based on D’Wayne Swear who actually worked for the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department. Bakula talked with WLOX News’ David Elliott about playing a real life D’Wayne Swear, who is a technical advisor on set.

“It’s fantastic,” said Bakula. “I’ve done this a few times, where I’ve played somebody who has also been on the set and it just helps you bring more to the part because I can turn around and say where would you keep your gun in the situation? Or, where would you get your handcuffs from or how would you approach this body?”

Bakula said he likes being able to bounce stuff off of Swear because, “In reality I think it’s more interesting than stuff that we come up with. We are always creating reality, and he’s actually been there. So it just helps immensely to have him here.”

As far as filming the show in New Orleans, Bakula said the city by itself is one of the most unique on the planet because of its heritage, history and people. “It’s just an incredibly rich kind of fabric of a place to tell stories from,” he said. “It’s not a new town. So for a show like ours that needs great character, we get a ton from the city, you know the birth place of jazz etc., the great food and then we have all the wonderful people who live here.”

The U.S.S. Kidd will soon be the newest cast-member of “NCIS: New Orleans.” The historic naval warship will be closed to the public from Aug. 18 through Aug. 22 for filming, according to a release issued Aug. 13.

The show stars Scott Bakula, CCH Pounder and Zoe McLellan and it began filming in New Orleans in July.

“NCIS: New Orleans” location manager Evan Easton was looking for “a real naval battle ship,” according to the release.

The crime drama “NCIS” is one of the longest running and most popular television series in the history of television. Different versions of the show have been set in various cities. The new “NCIS: New Orleans” will premiere on WLOX CBS on September 23.

Actor Scott Bakula, best known for his role in the TV show “Quantum Leap,” will star as NCIS Special Agent Dwayne Pride. WLOX News visited with Bakula between shooting scenes, and he said he’s very excited about being part of one of the most successful shows in television history.

“I’ve never been in the position where the ball is handed to me from the number one show on the planet. It’s a gift,” Bakula said.

The show will be shot on location around New Orleans and will feature the city’s history and culture.

There is a South Mississippi connection to “NCIS: New Orleans.” D’Wayne Swear ran the NCIS New Orleans office. He also worked with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department. He lives in Gulfport and serves as technical adviser for the show.

“Though it is entertainment, they really are focused on reality. They ask me questions about the sets, if they really look this. They also ask about steps in an investigation and they really do it,” said Swear.

Bakula’s character is actually based on Swear’s real life experience in the NCIS New Orleans office.